Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Those in the HSE are working to bring in the reforms that are necessary. I do not accept this ongoing attack on the health service in which more than 1 million people a year are receiving treatment. Hospitals are doing their best and we are spending €500 million a year on the capital programme. In many cases, including in respect of maternity and children's cardiac surgery, figures are never quoted in this House because people just look through reports, as we saw yesterday, find the negative and attack the service. The health service is staffed by highly competent people doing their jobs in a highly competent way. We should be proud of them instead of always ridiculing them.

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